Shoe construction for preventing deformation of the foot



19, 1952 5. J. WIKLER 2,607,132

SHOE CONSTRUCTION FOR PREVENTING DEFORMATION OF THE FOOT Filed March 10, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l Aug. 19, 1952 s. J. WIKLER ,6

SHOE CONSTRUCTION FOR PREVENTING DEFORMATION OF THE FOOT Filed March 10, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR" SIMON JOSEPH WIKLER ATTORNEY known as fallen arches.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 .sHoE cons'ranc'rloivFon-rREVENrnsIe l DEFORMATION Opra -Fo er a ,fSi s rhiw ifiili mg m M V Application March 10, 195o,-saa1m.148,8s1

This invention relates to an improvement .in

shoes and more particularly to a shoe which prevents deformation of thefoot. V 1

In the past many different designs and construction of shoes have been'proposed; however, generally the shoes now in use are narrowed and convex in the regionof the tuberosityof'the fifth metatarsal bone. Lmamanner which causes this structure to be compressed and frequently causes elements of the'structure to ride on the upper of the shoe rather than on the sole. The elements mentioned are important weight bearing componentsand the insufficiency of room in a shoe for them are :serious handicaps tothe efficient functioning of the humanfoot and interferes with the normal flow of weight and force to the toes.

Further, the toe room in the shoes now generally in use is narrower than the normal width of the toes; and in many instances the toe room in the shoes is smaller than the width of the already deformed and compressed toes. With insufficient width provided in the toe area ofthe shoe, the toes are cramped and deformed and-are unable to discharge their normal functions. In addition due to the resulting pressure and friction of the compressing shoe,'there develop corns, bunions, hammer toes, ingrown nails, and the like.

In additionin present shoes inadequate space is provided for the spreading of the middle toes and abduction of the great and small toes. The .prolonged non-use *of such movements causes these powers to be largely lost. It has been found extremely important to the health of the individual to be able-to-zspread the toes andparticularly to be able to abduct the great and little toes of each foot. Not only are these movements essential when the foot 'is bars but also when the shoe is worn. When shoes that do not permit these functionsof the toes are worn-overa long period, the human body is forced to make certain {gravitational adjustments in posture in order to remain upright. Due to the inability to bear weight fully .on the outer side of the foot :and the insufficient room for-expansion ofthe toes, the inner side'or arch of the foot is used resulting .in the disease It is essential to the health of the individual to expand the forefoot in order to meet superimposed gravitational demands and still retain proper balance and support. This lack of facility to spread the toes and'properly bear the'weight affectsalmostevery part of the human anatomy since the body must make adverse compensatory changes for inadequacies in the .feet, often resulting in postural .2 Claims. (01. se -35); l

trauma existing inmany parts of the The applicant has suggested that this may be ,aserious factor in the cause of many major "diseases, especially rheumatic-fever and cancer. 'I'he heelportion of the shoes-generally in use tend to. have alsharp border which forms an angle of with the ground. In walking or moving the foot, weight is generall-y first assumed byithe borders of the heel portion ofthe shoe. The sharp angle does not permit the flowvof force to be transferred to the soleof the shoe in an eflicientmanner, such as does the rounded border of the heel of the bare foot during walking. Such a shoeinterferes with the efiicient functione ing of the foot in walking. This inventionhas' as an object tdprovide a shoe which permits the necessaryv function of spreading the toes and abducting the great and smalltoes. Y

'A further object of this invention is to provide .a shoe which prevents deforming pressures against the toes and toe nails] I l Astill furtherobiect of the invention is to pro-- vide a shoe which eliminates unusualpressures against the tub erosity of the fifth metatarsal bone and the fifth and fourth .,metatarsa1'and cuboid articulations, and to adjacent structures due to pressure against the above. Another object'of the invention is a shoe which permitsa full normal weight bearingsurface 0n theouterside of the foot. v v

Still another object of the'invention is to provide a :shoe' which securely grips the foot at the inner arch, the inner side of the heel and the? outer side of the heel, keeping the foot securely positioned in .the shoe and yet leaving the forepart-of the "foot relatively free of pressure and restrictions of movement. 7 Still another object of theinvention -is..to provide 1351103 in which the rounded border of the heel portion-with the vertical permits the weight when taking a step .to; be easily assumedby the :sole of the shoe, the outer border of .the heel :of the shoe simulating the outer border of the heel of the-bare foot.

still further andadditional "objects and features of the inventionwillbe apparent from the to provide logical characteristics in common. Thus all normally constructed feet have the same general shape of the sole and plantar surface of the heel of the shoe and hence, it may be applied to any type of shoe that will position the foot in a secure manner. The invention may be applied to shoes used by men, women and children, including the high top shoe, work shoe, oxford, sandal, slipper, overshoes and others. As previously mentioned the heel portion A, B, and C is relatively narrow and shaped to correspond to the human heel so as to snugly fit the heel of the foot. The portion of the foot corresponding to weight bearing areas in common.- These are the heel, the outer side of the foot, the ball of the foot" and a large part of the plantar surface of the toes.

and is indicated by the reference numeral 10.

In the present invention as shown particularly inFigure l, the shoe is so designed that the foot is snugly held in position at points A, B. C. and D; so that the foot is properly positioned centrally of the shoe to allow space at either side of the fore foot for the spreading of the middle toes and abducting of the great and smalltoes as indicated by dotted lines. Since the heel consists of asingle bone, snug fitting at this point does not interfere with the movement of the various joints of the foot while it enables the foot to be securely positioned in the shoe.

To describe the shoe in more detail, it consists of the sole H which may extend the entire length of the shoe. In Figure 4, the sole is These areas are indicated in Figure 1 by a continuous line which encloses the space designated shown to be fiat without the conventional heel,

whilein Figure 6 the sole is in the form of a wedge; However, a conventional heel may be provided if desired as shown in Figure 7. The posterior and lateral borders of the rear of the sole are curved upwardly as shown at I2 in Figures' 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7, in a manner such that a curved border between the rear portion of the sole and the ground is provided which simulates thehuman heel. The curved border gradually becomes a right angle beginning at the point l3 on the outer side which is behind the calcaneo cuboid articulation, and at the point I 4 on the inner side which is posterior to the anterior termination of the sustentaculum tall. The inher surface of the heel or insole 15 may be of any type conventional in the art. This invention is concerned with the outer heel borders of the shoe which come in contact with the ground rather than theinner heel surface that comes in contact with the foot. 7

The quarter of the shoe I6 can be of any con- .ventional construction except that it must conform to the shape of the pattern of the heels plantar outline. Counterstiffeners l6 may be used as shown in Figure 5 or the quarter may be fiexibleaccording to the need or the use the shoe will be 'putto. The upper front of the shoe may be provided with perforations I! as shown in Figures 4 and 6 for lacing the shoe, or if desired straps or other binding devices may be employed to keep the foot firmly positioned in the heel of the shoe. The toe portion of the shoe I8 is relatively high, rising substantially vertically at the toe of the shoe. Too much unused space between the ends of the toes and the end of the shoe is undesirable. The high construction of the toe portion will permit extension of the toes on the foot. A flexible or stiifened toe box may be used according to the needs of the individual.

The present invention resides mainly in the 'point D is not normally a weight bearing portion of. th'e'foot and therefore that portion of the sole canbe indented. The sole outline on the inner sidecf the shoe is provided with an identation extending toward the foot as shown at D and then flares away from the foot at point [9, which represents the point at which the first metatarsal shaft starts to swell into what will finally become the weight bearing head and sesamoids 20. Thus the foot is snugly held at a point behind the first metatarsal phalangial articulation, and the upper portion of the shoe will fit the inner side of the foot to preclude excessive shifting of the foot in'the' shoe. No excessive space should be left in the region of the shoe posterior to the first metatarsal phalangial articulation. Inthe normal or nearly normal foot, the shaft of the first metatarsal 2| is drawn towards the center of the foot when the great toe is abducted thus requiring even less room than when the foot is at rest. This is in contradistinction to the foot that is afiiicted with gout or bunions where adduction of the great toe is diificult and excessive bone development and swelling requires a much greater extension of the sole space in this area. This invention is not considered suitable for persons with extensive inflammation and enlargement due to bursitis, gout and grossly enlarged bunions.

At point 22 the border on the inner side of the shoe extends away from the foot to point 22 substantially following a line b'-b" which is at an angle of approximately 20 to the line a-a" which is the axis of the great toe in its normal position. This angle can be varied according to the condition of the individuals foot and his ability to abduct the great toe. The resulting portion of the sole designated as E leaves a space 23 between the edge of the shoe and the great toe when in the normal position. This space 23 is utilized when the great toe is abducted to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l and designated as 24.

The front border of the shoe F conforms to the natural arrangement of the ends of the toes as indicated. This arrangement is distinctly contrary to most present day shoes which are pointed and of excessive length, thus having no relationship to the normal contour of the foot and acting to prevent normal fiexion of the toes.

The portion of the shoe G adjacent the small toe extends away from the foot leaving a space 25 between the small toe in its normal position and the outer border of the shoe to permit abduction of the small toe when desired. The border of the sole of the shoe at point G substantially follows the line dd which is at an angle of approximately 20 with respect to the line c'--c" which is the axis of the fifth toe and the fifth metatarsal in the normal position. The border of the shoe substantially follows the line d'--d" from the point 26 which is behind the fifth metatarsal to the point 21 which is anterior of the furthermost extension of the small toe when it is in the abducted position.

The space 25 provided for abduction of the small toe together with the space 23 provided for abduction of the great toe also permits the spreading of the middle toes. Beginning at the point 28, the outer border of the shoe follows the contour of the line to the point I3, thus forming a concave portion 27 adjacent the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal. The concave portion 2'! ends at point I3 behind the cuboid calcaneal. articulation. This concave portion 21 permits the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal, the cuboid bone and its adjacent soft tissues to rest directly on the sole of the shoe. This arrangement is in direct contrast to conventional shoes wherein the sole is convex at this portion of the sole instead of concave so that the foot adjacent this area rests on the upper of the shoe rather than on the sole. The present invention permits this important weight bearing portion of the outer side of the foot to rest on the sole of the shoe.

From the above description it will be readily seen that the foot is snugly positioned within the shoe by the heel, the inner arch, and the outer border, but the outer side of the sole of the shoe is permitted to act as a free weight bearing surface and the front end of the shoe is made high and wide so that no constricting pressures are possible against the toes. The Width of the toe portion of the shoe should be approximately twice the width of the widest part of the heel, although this dimension may vary with different shapes and types of feet. The important factor is that sufficient space be allowed on either side of the toes when the foot is secured in the shoe sothat abduction of the great and small toes and spread ing of the middle toes may be accomplished.

The heel portion of the shoe is curved as shown at I2 on the posterior and lateral borders thus permitting free accession of weight to the sole of the shoe.

The most important features of the present invention may be summarized as follows:

1. A wide toe portion of the shoe extending outwardly at both the inner and outer edges to provide room for the spreading of the middle toes and abducting of the great and little toes.

2. A Well fitted heel to snugly position the foot with respect to the shoe.

3. A decided inward contour on the inner side of the shoe to a point behind the first metatarsal phalangial articulation to snugly grip and position the foot with respect to the shoe.

4. An inflare at the region behind the calcaneo cuboid articulation to secure the heel and then a decided flare outward to allow a fiat weight bearing surface on the sole for the cuboid and tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal area.

5. A high toe portion of the shoe to permit extension of the toes.

6. A front end of the shoe which conforms to the shape of the composite front ends of the toes and which will permit the shoe to leave the ground with a minimal loss of efiiciency.

7. A rounded outer heel border simulating the heel of the bare foot that will permit the sole of the shoe to assume a weight bearing attitude more efficiently.

Although I have herein shown and described the invention in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent methods.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe construction which prevents deformation of the foot comprising a sole portion, an upper portion, said upper portion including a counter portion and a toe portion, said counter portion being narrow and shaped to securely engage the foot from a point behind the calcaneo cuboid articulation on the outer side thereof to a point on the inner side thereof behind the first metatarsal phalangial articulation, the toe portion of the sole and upper being flared outwardly and forwardly at both the inner and outer edges adjacent the great and small toes to allow spaces between the great toe and the inner edge and between the small toe and the outer edge of the upper portion of the shoe to permit the abducting of said toes, and wherein said shoe addition- -ally includes an outwardly extending curved portion on its outer border adjacent the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal of the foot to provide for the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal and its attached soft structures.

2. A shoe construction which prevents deformation of the foot comprising a counter portion, said counter portion being narrow and shaped to securely engage the foot from a point behind the calcaneo cuboid articulation on the outer side thereof to a point on the inner side thereof behind the first metatarsal phalangial articulation, and a wide toe portion, said toe portion being flared outwardly and forwardly at both the inner and outer edges, the inner and outer edges of the shoe from a point adjacent to the weight bearing head and sesamoids to a point adjacent the ends of the great and little toes each flaring outwardly along a line which forms an acute angle with axis of the great and little toes when in their normally extended positions, thereby allowing a space between the small toe and the outer edge of the shoe and between the great toe and the inner edge of the shoe to permit the abducting of said toes, and wherein said shoe additionally includes an outwardly extending curved portion on its outer border adjacent the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal of the foot to provide for the tuberosity of the fifth metatarsal and its attached soft structures.

SIMON JOSEPH WIKLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 109,438 McComber Nov. 22, 1870 1,455,887 Salisbury May 22, 1923 2,088,263 Grouven July 27, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,153 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1893 398,788 France Apr. 2, 1909 

